Homily - 34A Sunday homily (26 November 2023) Christ the King

 

34A SUNDAY HOMILY: CHRIST THE KING. MATTHEW 25:31-46, NOVEMBER 26, 2023 

1. STORY

A king, who had no children, was looking for someone to succeed him. Signs were put up throughout the kingdom inviting qualified men to apply.  The two requirements were that they must have a deep love for God and for neighbor.  John, who was poor, had these requirements so he decided to apply.  He had to beg for money to buy decent clothes and buy food for the long journey.  After travelling a month, John saw the castle on a hill in the distance.  At the same time, he saw a poor old beggar on the side of the road and heard him saying that he was hungry and cold.  John was deeply moved and exchanged his warm clothes with the beggar and gave him money that he was to use for his return trip.  John arrived at the castle wearing tattered clothes and with no money.  The guard brought him to see the king.  John bowed before the king and when he straightened up, he was amazed to see that the king before him was the beggar he met the day before.  John asked the king why he acted as a beggar.  The king replied that he had to find out if John really did love God and neighbor.  The king wanted the person who followed him to be like him, loving God and his neighbor.  John became the new king.

 

2. GOSPEL: MATTHEW 25:31-46

A. THE NEEDY IN THE WORLD

At the last judgment, Jesus will judge us by our actions in helping those in need.  He will not judge us by how much education we have, how much money we have earned, what position we had in life, or how famous we were. 

B. HELPING THOSE IN NEED

Jesus tells us clearly what kind of actions he considers important.

Here are some examples. 

i) Feed the hungry. 

ii) Give water to the thirsty. 

iii) Welcome the stranger. 

iv) Clothe the naked. 

v) Visit the sick. 

vi) Visit those in prison.

Jesus, our King, has given us his example during his life as he helped those in need.  He wants us to continue his work.

 

3. APPLICATION IN LIFE

A) THOSE IN NEED TODAY

Today there are many in need.  There are those in physical need.  They may need food, clothes, a home, work, medical care, or money.  There are those who are in spiritual need.  They are unhappy, lonely, friendless, or hopeless. 

B) HELPING THOSE IN NEED

We can give material help by giving food to the hungry, clothes to the poor, or money to the penniless.  We can give spiritual help by calling one who is lonely, visiting the sick, or listening to someone in trouble. Jesus, our king, wants us to continue the work he began while on earth.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The king in the story wanted his successor to be like him by loving God and helping those in need.  Jesus, our king, wants us to continue his work by helping those in need.  There are many who need material help and there are many who need spiritual help.  We can help some of the needy according to our ability.  When we make others happy, we become happy.  Jesus, our king, wants us to continue his work of helping the needy.

Homily - 33A Sunday homily (19 November 2023) The Parable of the Talents

 

33A SUNDAY HOMILY, THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, MATTHEW 25:14-30 Nov.19, 2023

1. STORY

There was a group of tourists admiring a beautiful newly constructed church.  Suddenly a boy named John came up to them and told them that he had a part in the construction of the church.  Naturally they were surprised to hear this from such a young person.  They asked John what he did.  He answered that each day he brought lunch to his father who was a construction worker.  John told the truth.  He wisely used his talent, a gift from God, by being able to carry his father’s lunch to help build the church.

 

2. GOSPEL. MATTHEW 25:14-30

A. ALL HAVE TALENTS

The master gave talents to his three servants.  “He gave to one, five talents; to another, two talents; and to a third, one talent… to each according to his ability.” 

B. THE USE OF THE TALENTS

Two of the servants used their talents wisely and were rewarded by the master.  One of the servants who did not use his talents wisely was punished for being lazy.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. FIVE TALENTS GOD HAS GIVEN US

God has blessed us with many talents.  He has given us the ability to talk, to see, to hear, to think, to walk and many more talents. 

B. HOW TO WISELY USE OUR TALENTS

i) We use wisely our talent to talk by speaking to God and praising and thanking him for his many daily blessings.  We speak with kindness, respect, and patience towards others.

ii) We wisely use our ability to see by reading the bible, the Catholic newspaper, and good books.  We avoid seeing movies, reading books, or using the computer to watch programs that may cause us to sin.

iii) We wisely use our ability to hear by hearing the word of God, listening to good speakers, and by patiently listening to those who are unhappy.

iv) We wisely use our ability to think when we figure our ways to help people, how better to preach the gospel, and how to make our home, our parish, and our society happier places to live in.

v) We wisely use our ability to walk by going to Mass faithfully on Sunday, by going to those in need, and by staying away from places or persons who might cause us to sin.  These are a few ways to wisely use some of the talents God has given us.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Young John wisely used the gift of being able to walk by bringing daily lunch to his father who was helping to build the new church.  The master gave his three servants talents according to their ability.  Two used them wisely while the third one did not.  The two were rewarded for their diligence but the third lazy one was punished.  God has given us many talents which we must use wisely.  God will reward or punish us according to how we use them.  We thank God for showering us with many talents and gifts.  We pray for the strength, wisdom, and perseverance to use them to honor, glorify and thank God, to help the needy, and to save our souls.

Video - Revelation chapter 22

 

Audio script

22/Revelation, Chapter Twenty-two.

Revelation Chapter 22

1.      22:1-5 The river and tree of life

The river nourishes the tree of life whose leaves serve as medicine (isolated sayings).

2.      22:6-7 The words are trustworthy

God sent his angel whose words are trustworthy as they tell of what will happen soon.

3.      22:8-13 What John heard and saw

John heard and saw what was written.  He is not to worship angels but only God.

4.      22:14-15 Inhabitants of the city

The martyrs who have washed their robes are welcomed into the city.  Sinners are excluded.

5.      22:18-19 Don’t change the book

Anyone who adds to or takes away from the book will be punished by God.

Video - Revelation chapter 21

 

Audio script

21/Revelation, Chapter Twenty-one.

Revelation Chapter 21

1.      21:1-4 New heaven and earth

There will be a new heaven, earth and Jerusalem.  God will be with his faithful.

2.      21:5-8 The faithful and unfaithful

The faithful will be rewarded but the unfaithful will be punished.

3.     21:9-14 New Jerusalem

The church is the wife of the lamb.   There were 12 gates each with name of one of the 12 tribes.  

4.      21:15-21 Square city

The city is shaped like a gigantic cube, a symbol of perfection, 1500 miles.

5.      21:22-27 Inhabitants of the city

Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Homily - 32A Sunday homily (12 November 2023) The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 

32A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 25:1-13, November 12, 2023

1. STORY

A new lighthouse keeper was instructed to always have enough oil available to keep the light of the lighthouse burning.  He became friendly with the local fishermen who often asked him to lend them some oil for their fishing boats so as not to have to go into town to purchase the oil.  One day he noticed the fishermen had gone and their boats were safe on shore.  Only then did he realize that a storm was coming.  He ran to see if there was enough oil available only to find, to his great surprise, that there was none left.  The storm came but there was no light to guide the boats safely into port.  Many boats were destroyed.  The lighthouse keeper was not prepared causing much harm to others.  It is important always to be prepared.

 

2. GOSPEL: MATTHEW 25:1-13

A. THE TWO GROUPS OF VIRGINS

There were ten virgins who were waiting to welcome the bridegroom. Not knowing the exact time of his return, five prepared extra oil for their oil lamps while five did not prepare extra oil.  When he finally arrived late into the night, only five who had prepared extra oil were able to greet him.  The five who had not prepared extra oil were not able to greet him. 

B. THE TWO RESULTS

The five virgins who were prepared to welcome the bridegroom enjoyed the wedding feast.  Those five who were not prepared were refused entry into the wedding feast.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. BE PREPARED

It is important for us to be prepared in life whether it is preparing for a meal, an exam, going to work, or on a journey.  Here are three ways to be prepared as disciples of Jesus.

i) Live a life of prayer giving daily thanks to God for his blessings, praising him for his greatness, and asking him for help. 

ii) Live a life of service by helping the poor, the sad, the lonely, and anyone in need. 

iii) Live a life caring for your health, avoiding excessive eating and drinking, and controlling the use of computer or mobile phone. 

B. OUR REWARD

When we are prepared as disciples of Jesus, we will receive our reward here on earth and in heaven.  We will be rewarded here on earth as we will be able to love God, our neighbor, and ourselves.  This will bring us happiness, joy, and peace of heart.  We will be rewarded in heaven with eternal life by living in total happiness, with God along with our loved ones who have also been faithful disciples of Jesus.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The lighthouse keeper was unprepared to keep the light shining during the storm. Many ships, without the help of the light from the lighthouse, were destroyed.  There were five wise virgins who had prepared enough oil for their oil lamps to greet the bridegroom in the middle of the night.  The other five virgins, being unprepared to greet the bridegroom, were not welcomed into the wedding feast.  The disciples of Jesus must be prepared to welcome him by living lives of prayer, service, and caring for our physical and spiritual health.  We will be rewarded on earth with happiness, joy, and peace.  We will be rewarded in heaven with eternal life with God.  Be prepared.

 

Homily - 31A Sunday homily (05 November 2023) The Proud and the Humble

 

31A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 23:1­-12 NOVEMBER 5, 2023 

1. STORY

One day a philosopher asked a fisherman to row him across a small river.  As they crossed the river, the philosopher asked the fishermen if he knew the source of the sun, the moon, and the stars.  The fishermen replied that he knew very little about them except that God made them and controlled them.  The philosopher sighed saying that the fisherman had wasted a fourth of his life.  The philosopher then asked the fisherman if he knew about the life of the king.  The fisherman replied he only knew the kings come and go but the king he knew, God, cared for him and lives on forever.  Again, the philosopher sighed and said to the fisherman if he knew about the nature and the origins of God.  He replied “no” but he knew God created him and cared for him.  The philosopher said he had wasted three­ fourths of his life.  Suddenly a storm came and the philosopher’s face turned pale. The fisherman asked him if he knew how to swim.  The philosopher answered that he did not know how to swim.  The fisherman told him he was about to waste his whole life.  The proud will be humbled.

 

2. GOSPEL: MATTHEW 23:1­-12

A. THE PROUD WILL BE HUMBLED

Jesus pointed out those who were proud.  They preached but did not practice.  They performed works to be seen.  They loved the places of honor at banquets.  They wanted to be called “Teacher” in the market places. 

B. THE HUMBLE WILL BE EXALTED

Jesus taught us not to seek fame.  Not to do things solely to be praised, nor seek to be number one.  He taught us to be servants by being willing to help others.  He taught us that the proud will be humbled, and the humble will be exalted.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. BE HUMBLE

i) “All that we have comes from God.”  He is the source of our blessings.  Our life, our ability to think, and our ability to work are gifts from God.  We should be grateful each day thanking God for these blessings.  We should attend Mass which is the great prayer of thanksgiving.  

ii) Our knowledge is limited

There are many things we know but there are more things we do not know.  The philosopher was wise but so was the fisherman.  We should be willing to listen to others.  Seek out the wisdom of wise and experienced persons.  

iii) “Use our talents for others

Be a servant willing to help others.  No matter what our position is in the family, in the church, in society, or in the company, we have the ability and opportunity to help, to be of use, to make life brighter and more joyful for others.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The fisherman knew how to row a boat and how to swim.  The philosopher knew many things about the world.  Though they knew a lot, there was still a lot more to learn.  The scribes and Pharisees were proud seeking for glory, wanting to be praised, and desiring the best places at a banquet and in the synagogue.  Jesus warns us that the proud will be humbled and the humble will be exalted.  The humble person knows that all he has comes from God and, therefore must be grateful.  He may know many things but there is still much more to learn so he is willing to listen and learn from others.  He must be a servant using his God­ given talents to make life happier, more joyful, and more peaceful for those in need.  We must remember that the proud will be humbled and the humble will be exalted.